• Molecular virology
• Virus-host interaction
• Antiviral immunity

Dr. Zi-Wei Ye is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Ye received her BSc degree in Sun Yat-sen University in 2011 and PhD degree in the University of Hong Kong in 2016. After graduation, she continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hong Kong in the field of virology and immunology.

Infectious diseases account for approximately one-fifth of global mortality, and viruses are responsible for about one-third of these deaths. In the past two decades, emerging and re-emerging viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses, avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, pandemic 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1) and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) have posed significant threats to global public health. Our lab focuses on innate antiviral response triggered by those viruses. We are particularly interested in investigating the host and viral determinants of viral infection and pathogenesis, with a recent emphasis on highly pathogenic coronaviruses. We are also developing novel vaccination strategies and antivirals against various emerging infectious diseases.

1. Ye ZW, Ong CP, Tang K, Fan Y, Luo C, Zhou R, et al. Intranasal administration of a single dose of a candidate live attenuated vaccine derived from an NSP16-deficient SARS-CoV-2 confers sterilizing immunity in animals. Cellular Molecular & Immunology. 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41423-022-00855-4.
2. Ye ZW, Fan Y, Tang K, Ong CP, Luo C, Chung HL, et al. Cross-variant protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters immunized with monovalent and bivalent inactivated vaccines. International Journal of Biological Sciences. 2022; doi: 10.7150/ijbs.72109. 
3. Yuan S, Ye ZW (co-first author), Liang R, Tang K, Zhang AJ, Lu G, et al. Pathogenicity, transmissibility, and 1 fitness of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Syrian hamsters. Science. 2022; doi: 10.1126/science.abn8939. 
4. Li M, Ye ZW (co-first author), Tang K, Guo L, Bi W, Zhang Y, et al. Enhanced trimeric ACE2 exhibits potent prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in vivo. Cell Research. 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41422-022-00656-4. 
5. Liang R, Ye ZW (co-first author), Ong CP, Qin Z, Xie Y, Fan Y, et al. The spike receptor-binding motif G496S substitution determines the replication fitness of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineage. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 2022, doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2111977.
6. Ye ZW, Yuan S, Chan JF, Zhang AJ, Yu CY, Ong CP, et al. Beneficial effect of combinational methylprednisolone and remdesivir in hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 2021, doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1885998.
7. Yuan S, Yin X, Meng X, Chan JF, Ye ZW (co-first author), Riva L, et al. Clofazimine broadly inhibits coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Nature, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03431-4.
8. Ye ZW, Yuan S, Yuen KS, Fung SY, Chan CP, Jin DY. Zoonotic origins of human coronaviruses. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 2020, doi: 10.7150/ijbs.45472.
9. Wong LR, Ye ZW (co-first author), Lui PY, Zheng X, Yuan S, Zhu L, Fung SY, Yuen KS, Siu KL, Yeung ML, Cai Z, Woo PC, Yuen KY, Chan CP, Jin DY. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ORF8b Accessory Protein Suppresses Type I IFN Expression by Impeding HSP70-Dependent Activation of IRF3 Kinase IKKε. Journal of Immunology, 2020, doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901489.
10. Yuan S, Chan JF, Ye ZW (co-first author), Wen L, Tsang TG, Cao J, et al. Screening of an FDA-Approved Drug Library with a Two-Tier System Identifies an Entry Inhibitor of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus. Viruses, 2019, 25:11(4). pii: E385. doi: 10.3390/v11040385.
11. Guo ZH, Ye ZW (co-first author), Haslam RP, Michaelson LV, Napier JA, Chye ML. Arabidopsis cytosolic acyl-CoA-binding proteins function in determining seed oil composition. Plant Direct, 2019, 3(12):e00182. 
12. Ye ZW, Yuan S, Poon KM, Wen L, Yang D, Sun Z, Li C, Hu M, Shuai H, Zhou J, Zhang MY, Zheng BJ, Chu H, Yuen KY. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity epitopes on the hemagglutinin head region of pandemic H1N1 Influenza virus play detrimental roles in H1N1-infected mice. Frontiers in Immunology, 2017, 8:317. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00317
13. Ye ZW, Chen QF, Chye ML. Arabidopsis thaliana Acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP6 interacts with plasmodesmata-located protein PDLP8. Plant Signalling & Behavior, 2017. 12(8):e1359365.
14. Ye ZW, Xu J, Shi J, Zhang D, Chye ML. Kelch-motif containing acyl-CoA binding proteins AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 are differentially expressed and function in floral lipid metabolism. Plant Molecular Biology, 2017, doi: 10.1007/s11103-016-0557-5. 
15. Ye ZW, Lung SC, Hu TH, Chen QF, Suen YL, Wang M, et al. Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP6 localizes in the phloem and affects jasmonate composition. Plant Molecular Biology, 2016, doi: 10.1007/s11103-016-0541-0. 
16. Ye ZW, Chye ML. Plant Cytosolic Acyl-CoA-Binding Proteins. Lipids, 2016, 51(1):1-13. 

• 2021, The Best Post Award (Heath Research Symposium, The 10^th anniversary of the HMRF)
• 2018, Travel Award for 2018 World Science Life Conference (Beijing)